Welcome to our third post about the Horror A Month Storygraph Reading Challenge. Like before, we decided to pick up different books to give you some options for the prompt. We hope that you are enjoying this kind of discussion on the blog. 🙂
March Prompt: Book Written by a Woman Author
Discussion of the Prompt:
There were some really good listicles for this prompt that I remember looking through. This one by Vulture was quite helpful (I found The Beauty there).
I also found my book through a list, and the synopsis of Into the Drowning Deep really fascinated me. I love all things deep ocean, and I love the idea of something spookily threatening laying in wait for discovery.
Ariel’s March Horror Read
Into the Drowning Deep by Mira Grant
(Find it on Storygraph and Goodreads)
Synopsis:
Seven years ago, the Atargatis set off on a voyage to the Mariana Trench to film a “mockumentary” bringing to life ancient sea creatures of legend. It was lost at sea with all hands. Some have called it a hoax; others have called it a maritime tragedy.
Now, a new crew has been assembled. But this time they’re not out to entertain. Some seek to validate their life’s work. Some seek the greatest hunt of all. Some seek the truth. But for the ambitious young scientist Victoria Stewart this is a voyage to uncover the fate of the sister she lost.
Whatever the truth may be, it will only be found below the waves. But the secrets of the deep come with a price.
Some content notes to be aware of: Gore, Death, Blood, Violence, Body horror, Medical content, Animal death, Gun violence, Murder, Animal cruelty, Confinement, Grief
General Thoughts of Book
This book was really great, and everything I would want and expect from a “first-contact” horror. We slowly learn about the sirens, and there is a building dread. There is a very large cast, but the plot and events keep things moving enough to where everything feels mostly balanced. I flew through this book because I was on the edge of my seat the entire time. The animal death/cruelty parts made me genuinely sad, and I know why the author included it, but I really do wish it wasn’t in the book.
With my love and fascination of unexplored voids like deep space or the deep sea, this book definitely presents readers with a tense adventure from the start. I really did enjoy my reading experience of this book, and the horror aspects delivered exactly what was intended for me.
Kriti’s March Horror Read
I ended up reading two books for this prompt – The Beauty by Aliya Whiteley which I posted about earlier this month, and Mexican Gothic by which Ariel reviewed on the blog when it first came out. For this post, I’ll be sharing about Mexican Gothic.
Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
(Find it on Storygraph and Goodreads)
Synopsis:
After receiving a frantic letter from her newly-wed cousin begging for someone to save her from a mysterious doom, Noemà Taboada heads to High Place, a distant house in the Mexican countryside. She’s not sure what she will find—her cousin’s husband, a handsome Englishman, is a stranger, and Noemà knows little about the region.
NoemĂ is also an unlikely rescuer: She’s a glamorous debutante, and her chic gowns and perfect red lipstick are more suited for cocktail parties than amateur sleuthing. But she’s also tough and smart, with an indomitable will, and she is not afraid: Not of her cousin’s new husband, who is both menacing and alluring; not of his father, the ancient patriarch who seems to be fascinated by NoemĂ; and not even of the house itself, which begins to invade NoemĂ’s dreams with visions of blood and doom.
Her only ally in this inhospitable abode is the family’s youngest son. Shy and gentle, he seems to want to help NoemĂ, but might also be hiding dark knowledge of his family’s past. For there are many secrets behind the walls of High Place. The family’s once colossal wealth and faded mining empire kept them from prying eyes, but as NoemĂ digs deeper she unearths stories of violence and madness.
And NoemĂ, mesmerized by the terrifying yet seductive world of High Place, may soon find it impossible to ever leave this enigmatic house behind.
From Ariel’s post, content notes to be aware of: Body horror, graphic violence and gore, references to incest, family member and child deaths, sexism and sexual harassment.
General Thoughts of Book
It might be odd to say that a horror book found me at the right time but Mexican Gothic worked very well with the busy weeks I have been having. I needed a book that would keep me engaged and maybe in some ways reflect the lull I have been feeling the past few days. I enjoyed the gothic feel of this novel. The writing was engaging and NoemĂ is a spunky protagonist, easy to relate to. The pace of the novel worked well for my mood and I looked forward to picking it every evening until I finished.
Mushrooms played an important part in both The Beauty and Mexican Gothic and I enjoyed seeing the variety of interpretations and usage. While The Beauty was more gross and challenged society norms more, Mexican Gothic had a deep seated creepiness and watchfulness to it. How does a young woman end up getting trapped with this strange family? And why are they so hostile? I was intrigued by the premise and satisfied with how the book turned out.
Closing Discussion for March Horror A Month
Next month our prompt is “Creature Feature” and we’ve got some ideas on what we’re going to read. Stay tuned for another great month of horror reads!
Thank you for joining us for our third Horror a Month post! We look forward to bringing you some horror recommendations this year! If there are horror books you would recommend, please let us know in the comments. We will try to fit them into our prompts.
Cover image: Photo by Presetbase Lightroom Presets on Unsplash
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